|
From: Bruce Vining
One example -- many, many years ago (when I was an IBM SE) I was
called into an account that had installed a COBOL PTF and suddenly
their business applications were failing whenever they were
re-compiled. The reason was that they had inadvertently been coding
to bug in the COBOL compiler (one that was related to database
access). The PTF they applied fixed the bug and all of a sudden
their database access was no longer working as desired. Over the
years I have seen many other similar instances -- a developer
discovers how something "works" and codes to it, without ever looking
to see if it's supposed to work that way.
So if we make the assumption that most PTFs correct bugs and the
known fact that bugs are sometimes written to (used) inadvertently,
then every PTF coverletter would need to indicate that business
applications are at risk of being impacted. Which would quickly
cause everyone to ignore the warning anyway :)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact [javascript protected email address].
Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.